Wisconsin Statutes of Limitations

A statute of limitations is a statute, or law, that restricts the period of time, after certain events, that a person may initiate legal proceedings. These time limits vary depending on the type of case and the state where the particular cause of action occurred. After the time limit has passed, the injured person no longer has the right to sue to recovery money damages, unless a legal exception applies. The following provides a brief summary, in alphabetical order, of some of the limitations periods for the state of Wisconsin for those actions related to personal injury, medical malpractice, and some products liability. Please contact a qualified Wisconsin lawyer to find out how a statute of limitations applies to your situation.

Fraud:

Actions based on fraud must be filed within 6 years. This six year limitation period begins to run from the date the fraud was discovered.

Libel-Slander-Defamation:

These types of actions must be filed within 2 years from the date of the action.

Medical Malpractice:

All actions against medical professionals must be filed within 3 years of the date of the act resulting in the injury, or within 1 year of the date the injury was, or should have been, discovered. A suit may not be filed more than five years after the date of the act resulting in the injury. If the injured party is a minor, a legal claim must be filed within the general medical malpracticelimitations period or by the minor child’s 10th birthday, whichever occurs later.

Medical Malpractice Actions Based on Foreign Object Left in Body:

All actions against medical professionals based on the presence of a foreign object in the body must be filed within 1 year from the date the patient discovers, or should have discovered, the object, whichever occurs later.

Personal Injury:

Personal injury actions must be filed within 3 years from the date of the injury.

Wrongful death actions must be filed within 3 years of the date of death.

Special Rules Tolling the Statute of Limitations:

A statute of limitations is tolled when certain conditions are present. When a statute is tolled, the limitations period is essentially put on hold for a period of time. Some typical reasons that a statute is tolled include situations when the victim of the injury was a minor at the time of the injury (minority), when the victim of the injury was mentally incompetent at the time of the injury (mental incompetence), and when the defendant has filed bankruptcy.

In Wisconsin, when the injured party is a minor, that minor will have 2 years from his or her 18th birthday to file a legal claim. This exception does not apply in medical malpractice or wrongful death cases, however. In those instances, please refer to the above information, or refer to the statute directly. If an injured party is deemed to be mentally incompetent or insane, the limitations period begins to run after the termination of the disability. No claim may be filed after 5 years have passed from the act resulting in the injury.

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